Mount Gambier's Vansittart Park will play host to the walking dead this Saturday as people dress up for the annual Mount Gambier Zombie Walk.

Ms Bamford is chief organiser and said she began the walk to attract the alternatives.

"The weird, the wacky and the wonderful."

"They're all welcome."

The walk is one of many held around Australia and the world during the last week, including New York, Mexico City and Singapore.

Although for many it's just a chance to dress up, the legend of zombies is believed to have originated in ancient times when belief in black magic was widespread.

The word 'zombi' in Haitian means "spirit of the dead," and voodoo folklore contends that 'bokors' or priests possessed the ability to resurrect the dead.

But Ms Bamford said according to legend, it was a 'different kind of person' who came back, the trance-like state and need for brains becoming ingrained through popular films such as Return of the Living Dead.

The 28-year-old Mt Gambier resident said she feels most comfortable when she's painted up and kitted out in what people would describe as an abnormal look.

"I'm not sure what normal actually is anymore," she laughs.

Five years ago, a trip to the Adelaide Zombie Walk where around 2000 costumed people stagger their way around the city streets piqued her interest in getting a similar event started in the South East.

"There was a gentleman there who crawled the entire length on his elbows," she said.

"I couldn't believe my eyes."

"I said to him, 'you should at least put a skateboard under there.'

Ms Bamford said she was also impressed with the lengths people went to for gory realism, some donning white contact lenses and investing in plastic make-up.

But, you don't need the budget of a B-grade horror movie to turn zombie-real said Ms Bamford, most effects can be easily and inexpensive.

Along with her trademark recipe for fake blood, she also dispensed her secrets for a realistic ripped skin effect.